Audience Research

Why audience research is important:
Audience research is important because  the size and reaction from the audiences measures the success of media texts, more so, with films. As the bigger the audience, added with a good reaction, is most likely going to make the film very successful. Without audiences, media texts would not be created.

Are audiences are categorized, e.g. demographics:
Audiences are categorized into different grades depending on their lifestyle choice, this is called demographics. The grades range from E to A, starting at working class people and students who have lower skilled careers or are unemployed, all the way up to the high class people who are expected to have high intelligence and skilled careers.

Key audience theories and which one best explains the medias relationship with the audience:
There are key audince theories within audince research, used to udertsnad the relationship, between the media and itse audience. Te key theories are:

• Hypodermic Needle Model: This is the theory that the media is capable of 'mass manipulation' of the audience an can make them believe anything they possibly want to within the film.
  This theory however, in recent years proves to not be as effective as it was in earlier years, due to people being less gulliable of the information fed to them.
• Two step flow model: This is the theory that the film or media text is shown to key people, who then pass on the information about said text to others around them. Therefore making others wnat to view the text also.
• Uses and gratifications: This is the theory that suggests how the accidence may have certain needs or desires that the media meets for them. Examples of this are diversion, which distracts them from their everyday life, surveillance which could make them more aware of their surroundings and world they live in, personal identity which may give them an insight to their inner personality or how they're like and personal relationship which could show people views on how they feel about others.
• Reception Analysis: This is the theory that infers that the audience interprets the meaning of the media text (film) differently based on their background, or a possible life experience they have encountered. 
• Effects debate:  This is the theory that media text (film) changes or completely alters the viewers opinions and beliefs on certain aspects of life, therefore 'effecting' them.

 I believe that the best theory to use of the audiences of today is the two step flow model. I think this because, usually if a film is of very good quality doubled with a interesting storyline which proves to be enjoyable for the viewer, many people will pass along the message to friends or colleagues that share the same interests as the viewer which in turn, may influence them a lot to go and watch the film. This is seen a lot with teen films, as at school or college, teenagers are likely to speak to their friends about recent films they have viewed, which their friends will usually go and view as well. 


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